Making Lives Better Info and past recipients
2023- Aacorn, First Day Shoe Fund, 12 Baskets food pantry
2022- 12 Baskets food pant
First Day Shoe Fund
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Mission: First Day Shoe Fund provides new athletic shoes to school-age children in Kalamazoo County who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. We believe that all children should start school on equal footing.
Twelve Baskets Food Pantry
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Mission: To lead the fight against hunger in our community by bridging the gap between the need and the excess, while restoring hope, dignity, and self-respect.
SPCA Southwest Michigan
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Mission: Every animal’s well-being is our main goal and each animal is provided with medical care, and daily environment enrichment and socialization.
Girl Scouts – Heart of Michigan
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Mission: Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
Sherman Lake YMCA
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Mission: The Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center puts Honesty, Caring, Respect and Responsibility into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
Jericho Foundation
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Mission: Our programs are designed to promote unity between various ethnic, religious, or socio-economic groups.
National: American Heart Association: Southwest Michigan: Go Red for Women Event
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Mission: The Go Red for Women luncheon continues to serve as the cornerstone event of the Go Red For Women movement in local communities. This empowering event focuses on preventing heart disease and stroke by promoting healthy lifestyles, building awareness and raising critically-needed funds to support research and education initiatives. Cardiovascular diseases, which include stroke, claim the life of a woman about every 80 seconds. We hope you will join us on our mission because about 80 percent of cardiovascular diseases may be prevented.
The time is now. Women are leaning into the idea that when we take a stand, commit, and work together, real change is possible.
Habitat for Humanity
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Mission: Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.
March of Dimes: Signature Chef’s Auction
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Mission: March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We believe that every baby deserves the best possible start. Unfortunately, not all babies get one. We are changing that.
The Kalamazoo Signature Chefs Auction features local culinary talent who create a selection of fine cuisine for an exclusive audience. Our chefs are artists, innovators and philanthropists, and we look forward to sharing their talents at the event.
Animal Rescue Project
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Mission: Our focus is on saving at-risk pets in pound facilities. We save homeless pets, one at a time, give them medical care and a safe temporary home, and provide responsible adoption services to those seeking pets. We started as a group of about 50 skilled and experienced animal rescue volunteers in 2010, and we’ve grown to about 150 volunteers.
The mission is all about homeless pets, but it’s also all about people: our volunteers, certainly, but also like-minded animal lovers who choose to give a second chance to a homeless pet. Together, we are addressing the problem of pet homelessness. If you’d like to join us, we welcome new volunteers, members, and other supporters.
Previous Community events / contests / initiatives
Learn more about some of our past community events!
Cold Plunge Challenge!
🎉 We've officially kicked off the Cold Plunge Challenge! 🎉
For every $1,000 donated toward our $10,000 goal for Cleaning for a Reason, Jeannie will be taking a cold plunge and sharing the freezing fun with you all! ❄️
Cleaning for a Reason provides free cleaning services to cancer patients, and every dollar raised helps make a difference in the lives of those facing this tough battle. 💙 This chilly plunge was possible thanks to the amazing folks at Utan Portage for supporting our efforts! 🙌
Check out the video and help us hit the next milestone so Jeannie can take another frosty dip! 💧 Together, we’re making lives better—one cold plunge at a time!
🌟 Donate, share, and let’s support our cancer families is their time of need! 🌟